Your guide to the real Christmas tree

Size will mostly determine price. The bigger and taller the tree, the more expensive it will be. But the kind of tree you pick also affects the price you pay.

Photograph by: Vlorzor
, Fotolia.com

Got your Christmas tree yet? This is the weekend when most homeowners go shopping for a real tree.

Size will mostly determine price. The bigger and taller the tree, the more expensive it will be.

But the kind of tree you pick also affects the price you pay.

Noble, Nordmann and Fraser firs are all popular because of their stiff, upright branching structure, making them suitable for holding heavy ornaments.

These trees tend to cost more, usually $60 to $80 for a six-or seven-foot tree.

Grand fir is loved for its fragrance. Crush the long needles and they release a beautiful citrus scent. However, the branches are floppier.The most affordable tree?

The uncultured Douglas fir costs less than the rest. But "uncultured" is what you get, meaning it has not been clipped to perfection.

You can, however, buy a cultured Doug fir that has been clipped and preened into the perfect triangular Christmas tree shape. Douglas firs are also considered the hardest trees to decorate because of their floppy branches.

Needle drop is a big issue with all real trees. Most consumers like trees that hold on to their needles for longer. It helps to get the trunk of the tree cut properly before you bring it home - at least half an inch off the base. Making sure the tree is adequately watered once you get it home is another key factor for good needle retention.

Fraser, Noble and Nordmann all hold their needles longer than Grand and Douglas firs.

Prices range from $20 for a small uncultured Douglas fir to $70 up to $120 for a giant cultured Douglas fir or largeFraser fir or Nordmann.

Most people will pay between $25 and $55 for a six-or seven-foot tree.

You have no need to feel guilty for choosing a real tree. All of the trees on sale at garden centres and charity lots have been have grown specifically at tree farms in B.C. as a crop for the Christmas market, just the same as thousands of greenhouse-grown poinsettias are grown for the festive season. Real trees can also be chipped and recycled as mulch and soil amender. Buying a real tree also helps scores of family-owned tree farms stay in business and can help charities and community organizations raise funds.

The key to caring for your real tree is to locate it in the right spot in your home, away from drafts and heat sources (heating vents, fireplaces, radiators and TVs) and to keep it adequately watered.

A seal of dried sap can form over the cut stump in four to six hours if the water drops below the base of the tree, preventing the tree from absorbing water.

If you buy a live Christmas tree, perhaps a burlapped blue spruce, Scotch pine, Serbian spruce or Norway spruce, it is important not to keep the tree indoors for longer than 10 days. This can accidentally wake the tree from its dormant or semi-dormant state. The tree can die if, after a warming spell indoors, it is then pushed outdoors where it will go into shock. Always allow your live Christmas tree to gradually re-acclimatize to the outdoors by first moving it to a cool room, then into a cooler garage or greenhouse before finally moving it fully outdoors.

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By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.